Report: Chelsea close in on agreement for Galatasaray defender Alex Telles

Chelsea are closing in on a deal for Galatasaray left full-back Alex Telles, according to reports.

The website of respected Sky Sport Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims that representatives for the Fulham based club are in the final stages of negotiations with their Turkish counterparts and that an agreement is imminent.

Serie A teams Internazionale and Juventus are also believed to have been keen on securing a deal for Telles, but the report suggests that they have now been defeated in their pursuit, with the latter said to be looking at Atlético de Madrid’s Guilherme Siqueira as an alternative.

Telles’ expected arrival at Chelsea will likely cover for the departure of Filipe Luís. The Brazil international - capped 18 times since debuting in 2009 - is set to return to Atlético following a mixed season in England.

No official confirmation of the switch has been announced as yet, but if Chelsea can secure Telles as a replacement, then it is likely that Luís will move on soon after.

Telles has been with Galatasaray since they signed him from Grêmio for a reported fee of €6.15 million in January 2014.

The 22 year-old, who has also played for Juventude, made 36 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring once, and has won three major honours during his time in Turkey.